Recently, I started setting intentions for each month to help me focus on an area of growth. My focus in September was creativity, and last month it was self-acceptance. This month, my focus is on resting with gratitude.

With all the changes we have undergone this year, slowing down and appreciating life is my soul’s greatest desire.

Peace is another intention for this month, and I hope to foster it through mindfulness. Mindfulness goes hand in hand with gratitude. By focusing on the present, you are able to celebrate being alive.

Fall is a wonderful season to celebrate life in. The colors that surround us and the crisp air are an invigorating change, the kind that has a ripple effect on our lives. It’s time to restore and recharge by doing some baking and warming by the fire. My heart is thrilled by the thought of it.

This month, I want to focus on what I am blessed with instead of what I am lacking. Our joy grows with our ability to appreciate things. That is the spirit of this season.

Before I discuss my strategies for the month ahead, I want to take a moment to reflect on what I learned about self-acceptance in October.

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8 Lessons in Self-Acceptance

Last month unfolded differently than I expected. During the first few weeks, I faced unusually low levels of motivation. In hindsight, I recognized that this was an opportunity to accept myself while underperforming. At the time, I struggled to do so.

Things smoothed out as the month went on, and I once again picked up momentum when I worked on completing a sewing project. Presently, I’m back to being able to take myself less seriously and guide my actions in a way that feels fulfilling.

Despite the month’s challenges, I learned a few valuable lessons:

• Calling any negative part of myself “hopeless” is a cop-out. Everything can be fixed, even deeply rooted patterns. I just need to be patient.

• Things get better the minute I balance work with rest.

• Repeating daily affirmations improved my self-belief.

• Expecting outward validation limits me. Once I let go of that expectation, I can begin to provide validation for myself.

• Courage and discipline are my two greatest allies; Courage to define myself apart from others and discipline to take valuable steps forward in life.

• My mind is more powerful than I give it credit for. If I deem a day bad, it will be bad. If I deem a day lovely, that it will be.

• How I feel about myself directly correlates to the state of my house. If I feel poorly, a 15-minute tidy-up can pick me right back up.

• Life is not a competition. When I feel envy, I must realize that the world is abundant and I can have what someone else has if I put in the work.

Self-acceptance will likely be a decade-long journey, but I am comforted by the steps I have taken in the right direction. I know I am on the right path.

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How to Embrace Peace & Gratitude This Month

1. Create a cozy atmosphere at home

The chilly November weather is here, whirling away the remaining fall leaves. With the beautiful colors of Autumn fading around us, it’s time to bring coziness and joy to our indoor abodes.

Plenty of winter home accessories are cost-effective and can bring immense comfort to your space. If you’re in need of ideas, I listed my favorite, all-natural winter home goods in this post.

You can also revive comfort and charm to your space by decluttering an area that has grown wild over the months. You’ll likely find items you forgot about that can bring new life to your space, too.

2. Take time to rest & reflect

‘Tis the season for dark early mornings, hot beverages, and a few moments of peace to ourselves.

My daily habit of Morning Pages (discussed more in this post) has been my anchor for the past four months. It’s helped me instill presence and intentionality for each day, even the ones I have trouble waking up to. I’ve learned to expect rest and renewal the moment I sit down with my journal, and it gets me up on the sleepiest of mornings.

Whether it’s at dawn or after the kids have been tucked in for the evening, take a moment for yourself. Even 10 minutes is better than none. Take time to celebrate your heart beating in your chest, to revel in your accomplishments and lessons from the day, and gracefully plan for tomorrow.

Come springtime, you’ll feel like a new person.

3. Host get-togethers

Part of enjoying the cold season ahead is finding strength in the community. Friends and family nights with fresh-baked cookies are the perfect recipe for a lovely winter evening.

With more time to spend indoors, it’s also a great time to do creative projects together. Host a painting day, writing night, sewing date, baking contest—whatever you wish!

You can even start your own traditions this holiday season. Have a DIY decoration day with a creative buddy. Bake winter treats with your mom. Host a seasonal movie night and serve hot cider.

Make the most of the season by sharing the warmth of your home.

4. Share a meal (or dish) on Thanksgiving

Whether you’re the type to be up early cooking for Thanksgiving or the type to go out to eat, I encourage you to make one new recipe to enjoy. Meals hit differently when they’re homemade.

It doesn’t need to be difficult to be delicious. For example, apple crisp is a delicious, easy fall dessert. There are tons of beginner recipes to choose from online.

Regardless of your skill level, spend some time experimenting in the kitchen this Thanksgiving and enjoy the fruit of your labors.

5. Put limits on Black Friday shopping

Black Friday poses a tough test for those of us who try to keep our wants few. Fear is a powerful motivator, especially regarding money. We don’t want to miss out on the biggest sales of the year.

There are ways to prevent overspending, though. Make your list of necessities now and get them the minute the sales start. If possible, narrow your list of wants down to a single item that you desire most.

If you’re not sure what that item should be, choose something you’ve wanted for a year or more. It’s notable how many desires fade over time. If there’s something that has been calling your name for a while, it’s worthy of adding to your life.

When we keep our wants few, we appreciate the things we buy more. Often, we find that all we have is all we need, which is the true meaning of gratitude.

6. Give to charity

Imagine that money is sand you hold in your hand. The harder you grip the sand, the quicker it slips through your fingers. But if you gently cup it, much more stays within your grasp.

Holding gently what we’re given is a rule for peace. Let things go in their time. If we vice-grip every penny, we will be dissatisfied all our lives.

Giving is a way to let go intentionally and peacefully, knowing your abundance will serve someone else’s needs.

In a spiritual sense, you can acknowledge that all you possess has come from the Source of all life. Out of appreciation for this Source, we can give part of what has been given to us.

7. Make Christmas gifts for your loved ones

While we may think retail stores are jumping the gun right now, Christmas truly will be here in a heartbeat. No task makes that more true than frantic gift-gathering.

A way to make Christmas extra special for the receivers of your gifts is to handmake them. Start now to prevent scrambling in December!

Some DIY Christmas gifts include:

• candle making
• soap making
• Crocheted & knitted goods
• baked goods
• Spiced coffees and teas
• handmade wreaths

8. Get a head start on New Year’s resolutions

I recently hosted a New Year’s Resolutions night with a close friend of mine. We sat by candlelight, ate freshly baked cookies, and shared our lists of hopes for the year ahead.

The nice thing about having this tradition in November is that you can get a head start before the new year. Tackle one goal on your list, and you’ll find that you feel more confident going into the year ahead.

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An Honest Update

I started working on this post at the end of October, and have struggled to stay focused on it since then. The low motivation I experienced at the beginning of last month repeated this month too.

Understanding our patterns is the first step to changing them, but they can still be discouraging. Just like last month, I had another opportunity to work through low motivation with grace and understanding, but I failed to do so.

Feeling stuck is undoubtedly frustrating, but it doesn’t have to end there. I have so many habits I want to develop, but right now, I appreciate that I’m writing consistently. That goal alone seemed impossible earlier this year.

I hope to grow in discipline and courage in the months ahead; discipline to use my time well and courage to fearlessly pursue my interests. Right now, I enjoy many of the activities I previously was afraid to try. That alone is worth celebrating.

The key for me is to find enough. The place where all I am and all I will become is in balance.

Too often, I treat my growth like a to-do list, impatiently waiting for the next item to be crossed off. Instead, I want to enjoy being alive just as I am now. I need to start relishing in the present again. It will be gone before I know it.

That’s the great dilemma: If I always seek change, then I’ll never appreciate the very moment I’m in.

Today is a new day, and the weeks I lost to low motivation are behind me. Thankfully, the storm was quicker to pass this time around. In time, I’ll learn how to handle each day regardless of my motivation. I will know how to respect my need for rest while still challenging myself in meaningful ways. I will find balance.

For now, I am grateful for the chance to try again and for the brilliant leaves all around me. They show me that there is beauty in falling and in growing anew when the time comes.

Until next time,

O&K